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How Nashville will play a critical role in developing the COVID-19 vaccine
In the national race to develop a vaccine against COVID-19, officially dubbed “Operation Warp Speed,” Nashville residents are at the starting gate. Two major Phase III vaccine trials are separately getting underway at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Meharry Medical College. A Nashville research firm is tentatively partnering with the Metro Health Department on two […]
Lawmakers begin review of sweeping emergency powers granted to governor
Since the onset of the pandemic in Tennessee, Gov. Bill Lee has drawn on sweeping emergency powers granted under state law to issue 44 executive orders, including stay-at-home orders, business closures and limits on nursing home visitors. On Thursday, state lawmakers met to consider whether those powers should be reigned in going forward. “Does (the […]
Bookman: Virus toll ranks high in SEC country as teams huddle up
As you probably expected, the Southeastern Conference dominates the preseason national rankings. As of Tuesday, Florida could claim the title of No. 1 in the country, reporting the highest weekly per-capita death rate from coronavirus nationwide. Go Gators! Texas, home of the Texas A&M Aggies, had the second-highest per capita death rate, followed by Mississippi […]
With Harris keynoting DNC, Tennessee’s elected women of color react
The selection of Sen. Kamala Harris as vice-presidential running mate to presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden last week has been lauded for its historic nature. Harris is the first woman of color to be named to one of the top positions on a presidential tickets and one of only a few women of any […]
New York consultant hired to design fairgrounds plaza
A prominent New York-based consulting firm has quietly scored a small contract to help in the redesign of the plaza that will connect the Nashville fairgrounds racetrack to the mixed-use development surrounding the Nashville SC soccer stadium. Biederman Redevelopment Ventures was hired as a subcontractor for $25,000 to design the plaza that was a critical […]
Tennessee now only state to pursue plan for Medicaid block grant
Tennessee remains the only state actively pursuing a controversial Medicaid block grant touted by the Trump Administration in January as a “game-changer” that would radically rejigger financing for the federal-state public health insurance program that covers 1 in 5 Americans. Last week, Oklahoma’s Republican governor, Gov. Kevin Stitt, informed federal officials he was scrapping plans […]
Nashville developers sues Metro Water in case with wide implications
A prominent East Nashville developer is in litigation with the Metro Water Department over who should pay for infrastructure repairs to the pipes in the public right-of-way. At face value, it’s a small dollar lawsuit by Metro standards. McGavock Pike Partners, led by Dan Heller and March Egerton, sued Metro in February for $74,641 over […]
COVID-19 liability legislation moves forward
The Tennessee legislature reconvened today to fast-track Gov. Bill Lee’s proposed legislation to exempt public and private companies and institutions from legal liability related to the COVID-19 pandemic. In separate committee hearings on Tuesday, during a specially called session expected to wrap up in less than a week, Democratic lawmakers argued unsuccessfully against the measure. […]
Carpool app adapted to aid with contact tracing
An innovative app that both improves traffic conditions and helps with contact tracing has been on the back burner for a year waiting on the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) for approval. Approved a year ago, Hytch Rewards has been waiting on federal funding in order to be fully implemented. The app was approved to […]
Metro health board approves revised plan to share limited COVID patient data with first responders
A temporary plan approved by the Metro Board of Health on Thursday will allow first responders to access information on individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 under highly proscribed circumstances. The Metro Public Health Department had previously shared patient names and addresses with law enforcement before the controversial data-sharing arrangement was halted in June. […]
Staff, children recovering after COVID outbreak at Nashville juvenile detention center
Eleven children and eight staff members tested positive for COVID-19 at the Davidson County Juvenile Detention Center in June. All have since recovered. The east Nashville facility is one of five juvenile detention centers around Tennessee that have had positive coronavirus cases among staff or youth, according to data obtained from the Department of Children’s […]
Report: 1,120 Tennessee businesses closed permanently due to pandemic
Between March 1 and July 10, 1,959 businesses in Tennessee have shut down in response to the pandemic — with 1,120 reporting their closures are permanent, according to data compiled by the business-rating site Yelp. In the Nashville-Franklin-Murfreesboro metro areas collectively saw at least 410 business close for good, Yelp reported. An additional 331 have […]